Everyone has a story to tell. What if you could tell your story and watch it come to life before your eyes? This Pride month, at a time when queer lives and rights face growing threats across the country, the Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble (CPTE) responds with “Amplify Queer Joy”—an evening of storytelling and improvisational theatre that celebrates resilience and radical joy in the queer community.

At “Amplify Queer Joy,” audience members will have the opportunity to share their own experiences of queer joy, whether they be moments of affirmation, connection, healing, or solidarity. These stories will be brought to life on stage by the talented CPTE ensemble through Playback Theatre, a unique and improvisational storytelling technique that fosters empathy, dialogue, and community.

Playback Theatre is an interactive form of theater that blends audience storytelling with live performance. Participants are invited to share stories, which the CPTE actors then improvise on stage, using music, movement, and dialogue to “play back” the story. Audience members can expect to see their experiences reflected on stage or simply enjoy witnessing others’ narratives unfold.